The absurdity of many US government recommendations would be humorous if not for the millions of Americans that take them seriously. The latest pseudo-scientific nonsense being peddled by Big Brother is the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ignorant claim that sunlight is dangerous, and that only “broad spectrum” sunscreens that block basically every type of sun ray from penetrating the skin are capable of preventing skin cancer and other alleged sun-induced diseases.

The FDA’s recent announcement deals primarily with a significant change in sunscreen labeling, but the devil is in the details as the agency purports in its press release that the sun is dangerous and must be avoided. The agency would rather have every American lather on a coating of toxic, chemical-laden sunscreen than risk the chance that even a single ray of “damaging’ sunshine penetrate their skin.

Such nonsense, of course, has been debunked by a host of scientific studies in recent years. Not only is sunlight exposure absolutely vital for maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D in the body, but a lack of it can lead to serious illnesses like multiple sclerosis, cognitive decline, bone loss, and even cancer. But the FDA has never let the facts get in the way of its agendas, which in this case is to promote the myth that sunlight exposure causes cancer and has no legitimate health benefit, and that the only way to effectively avoid it is to wear lots of sunscreen.

“The population of the world has been brainwashed by the American Academy of Dermatology and the sunscreen industry for thirty years, with the unrelenting message that you should never be exposed to direct sunlight because it is going to cause serious skin cancer and death,” says Dr. Michael Holick, professor of Medicine, Physiology, and Biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine. “People are really quite surprised by the new message that sensible sun exposure, in moderation, is very important for good health. We should appreciate the sun for its benefits, and not abuse it.”

And yet nowhere in the recent FDA announcement does the agency even hint that moderate sunlight exposure could be beneficial to health. Instead, Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, states that people should “regularly apply and reapply (approved) sunscreens,” as well as “limit sun exposure.”

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Besides blocking beneficial sunlight rays that produce vitamin D in the skin, the sunscreens the FDA promotes are loaded with untested nanoparticles, as well as known toxins like retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone. The agency denies, of course, that nanoparticles and other sunscreen chemicals penetrate the skin, even though numerous scientific studies say otherwise.

“Sunscreens facilitate the skin’s absorption of pesticides,” says Dr. Tatiana Cannell from the Vitamin D Council. “So if you want pesticides to be readily absorbed through your skin, circulate in your blood, go to your internal organs, and be excreted in your urine, wear sunscreens. Or you could take a swig of your Coppertone and chase it with a shot of Deepwoods Off.”